Emerald Mithrax Crab to the rescue

ducati1212 · 09/17/2006, 04:12 PM

So I have been struggling with bubble algae and hair algae since my tank started 6 weeks ago. I first put in some astrea snails they ate the brown algae dont touch the green algae, the cerith snails same deal. then a mexican turbo that eats nothing. I keep thinking he is dead but then he moves. Then blue and red hermits they avoid it like the plague. By now some rocks in my tank look like my front lawn. So I buy 1 tiny Emerald Mithrax Crab and toss him in. He is the size of a dime he dissapeard as soon as I put him in the tank 2 days ago. Now He is sitting on my hair algae covered rock mowing down hair algae. He tears it right out by the roots and eats it. Wooo whooo. Gonna need about 2 more. Feels good to watch something eat that stuff..

TekCat · 09/17/2006, 04:14 PM

Lucky you! I had no success with Emerald Crab. Yes, they are hit and miss, still nice to know that that was just a "miss" specimen

good luck!

Paintbug · 09/17/2006, 04:36 PM

just a word of caution. dont add any more emeralds. if you get males they will get fairly large for a 30g. you could get away with two females since they stay smaller, and are less aggressive than the males.

ducati1212 · 09/17/2006, 04:44 PM

I was wondering about that. I guess I can stay with the one for now. He is eating so well though. I think they are reef safe as long as they are fed well. I like crabs in my tank. when my basement is complete I am gettng a 130 g main tank I might also get a 65 gal invert tank and keep some cook crabs or siney lobster..

Paintbug · 09/17/2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ducati1212
I was wondering about that. I guess I can stay with the one for now. He is eating so well though. I think they are reef safe as long as they are fed well. I like crabs in my tank. when my basement is complete I am gettng a 130 g main tank I might also get a 65 gal invert tank and keep some cook crabs or siney lobster..

i like the crabs in my tank as well. they are the most entertaining creatures.

ducati1212 · 09/17/2006, 05:05 PM

my hermits can entertain for hours. Especially my blue legged hermits. They all steal each others shells but they are all the same size so they dont like any of them. I have bigger empty shells in there but they seem to only like to steal there buddies shells. funny little dudes.

09/17/2006, 04:12 PM	#1
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	Emerald Mithrax Crab to the rescue So I have been struggling with bubble algae and hair algae since my tank started 6 weeks ago. I first put in some astrea snails they ate the brown algae dont touch the green algae, the cerith snails same deal. then a mexican turbo that eats nothing. I keep thinking he is dead but then he moves. Then blue and red hermits they avoid it like the plague. By now some rocks in my tank look like my front lawn. So I buy 1 tiny Emerald Mithrax Crab and toss him in. He is the size of a dime he dissapeard as soon as I put him in the tank 2 days ago. Now He is sitting on my hair algae covered rock mowing down hair algae. He tears it right out by the roots and eats it. Wooo whooo. Gonna need about 2 more. Feels good to watch something eat that stuff..

09/17/2006, 04:36 PM	#3
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	just a word of caution. dont add any more emeralds. if you get males they will get fairly large for a 30g. you could get away with two females since they stay smaller, and are less aggressive than the males. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

09/17/2006, 04:14 PM	#2
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	Lucky you! I had no success with Emerald Crab. Yes, they are hit and miss, still nice to know that that was just a "miss" specimen good luck!

09/17/2006, 04:44 PM	#4
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	I was wondering about that. I guess I can stay with the one for now. He is eating so well though. I think they are reef safe as long as they are fed well. I like crabs in my tank. when my basement is complete I am gettng a 130 g main tank I might also get a 65 gal invert tank and keep some cook crabs or siney lobster..

09/17/2006, 05:05 PM	#6
ducati1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mass Posts: 604	my hermits can entertain for hours. Especially my blue legged hermits. They all steal each others shells but they are all the same size so they dont like any of them. I have bigger empty shells in there but they seem to only like to steal there buddies shells. funny little dudes.